Wand and pentacle, and sword. Cords and censer, scourge and knife.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Day 144, Thursday, October 23
Not hungry yet for lunch
Syl's caravan

Things have bin strange. Kate 'n I are still friends, and she ain't asked me t'leave yet. There's some kind 'a tension, but it ain't like before. It ain't weighin' on me. It's more waitin', t'see how she feels 'bout it, and what if anythin' she wants t'do 'bout it. I know she ain't bin sleepin' well, and part 'a me wants t'go knock on her door. But that won't help things none. And knowin' what she went through, I ain't 'bout t'try 'n rush things.

Meanwhile, livin' with her's bin frustratin' in other ways. My room back home has thick 'nough walls, but Kate's apartment is pretty small, 'n I'm a guest. I'm halfway t'goin' by the 'Boy at this point, 'r even just goin' out t'the bloody woods fer a couple hours. I sigh 'n finish brushin' my hair. Kate's gone out t'buy some treats 'cause she's off t'see a friend fer lunch. And me, it's bout time I went t'see Syl.

I gather up those journals I'm willin' t'share, and that she might like t'see. There's stuff on wardin', on cleanin' water 'n wounds, on keepin' a man's seed still so you dunt get pregnant, on enchantin' objects. That last one's somethin' I still need work on, and I'm hopin' she can help some. My wardin' bracelet and the bells ain't worked since that day I tried t'reach out.

I could do with some advice on that, too.

I pack my things in a satchel and walk out. I hope Kate has a good time with her friend. Wish I knew where t'go from here, too. I sigh again, walkin' over the bridge headin' t'the Carnival. It dunt take long from there, and I make my way t'Syl's caravan. I get stopped once 'r twice this time, but they let me by when I say she's expectin' me. I hope she ain't too pissed 'bout me goin' off like that.

I step up and knock, quietly. I hope she's here, and up. I dunt want t'have t'wander all over the Carnival lookin'.

[Open to Syl]

Comments

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"I ain't 'bout t'argue that," Tess says, annit's a good thin', cuz she'd lose. "So, all that's left is t'do it. 'Luck t'you."

"Thanks," I says, cuz'll take all th'luck I c'n bloody get. Dunno what I'd'a said if'n she still wanted in on th'rite. Let'er, I guess, but don't wanna see'er get killed. Bad 'nough if'n's jes' me.

Tess stands, stretches'er back 'n shoulders, an' thank fuck, she changes th'subject. "Anythin' you'd like t'try out?"

Nod 'n glance over th'papers. "Said y'managed t'ward off pests 'n sickness...y'ever try'is?" Hold uppa ward 'gainst thieves. Gotta sim'lar charm on somma th'cash boxes 'round, an' set in somma th'girls' rooms in th'Grindhouse. "Right handy, if'n y'c'n do'it right." An' somethin's nigglin' at me. Look down at'er wrist...don't feel th'same no more. "Somethin' wrong whichour ward?"

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," she says. She nods over t'the papers, sayin' "Said y'managed t'ward off pests 'n sickness...y'ever try'is?" She holds up her book, showin' off some symbols 'n words. "Right handy, if'n y'c'n do'it right." It look sort 'a familiar, but I shake my head. "It looks some like the ward I put up t'keep folk from bein' curious 'bout the farm, but that's 'bout it." She looks at my wrist, where the silver wardin' bracelet's still dead on my arm. "Somethin' wrong whichour ward?"

My mouth twists. "It ain't ever worked right - heck, you saw yourself it dint do nothin' when you hit me. And since - since I was gone, it ain't worked at all. Not after..." I dunt want t'think on it too much, not after all we bin talkin' 'bout.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"It looks some like the ward I put up t'keep folk from bein' curious 'bout the farm, but that's 'bout it."

I grin. "Same basic princ'pal, but'ere's all kindsa thin's y'c'n do wit'is charm...y'c'n make thin's scream if'n'ey's picked up, 'r make't so's 'ey can't be picked up...kinda like goin' dim, 'scept 'stead'a makin' folks think'ey ain't seein' somethin', ye're makin't seem like'ey ought not t'pick'em up. Y'see?" There's others too, if'n ye're bloody-minded...c'n make somethin' feel like's covered wit' needles, 'r like's on fire, 'r so cold th'skin freezes t'it...lotta thin's y'c'n do wit'a basic charm like'at, if'n y'got 'magination.

Looks mighty pissed when I point out'er bracelet. "It ain't ever worked right - heck, you saw yourself it dint do nothin' when you hit me. And since - since I was gone, it ain't worked at all. Not after..." trails off.

Right. "Well, wuzn't workin' quite like y'meant't to, but't wuz doin's best. Right now..." Lean over 'n touch't wit'a finger. Grimace. S'like...touchin' dead straw, lookin' atta candle's all burnt down'n puddled. Ain't nothin' left t'it. "Broke th'charm onnit. Jes' smashed't right down. Y'might b'able t'set'it back up, but most like...well, parta th'reason silver's so good't holdin' charms's cuzzit soaks magic right th'hell up. So like's not gotta li'l touch'a...well, a'what happ'ned still in'ere, an' like's not 'at li'l touch'll royally fuck up any other charm y'try t'lay onnit. Prob'ly best t'jes' toss't'n start anew."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She grins. "Same basic princ'pal, but'ere's all kindsa thin's y'c'n do wit'is charm...y'c'n make thin's scream if'n'ey's picked up, 'r make't so's 'ey can't be picked up...kinda like goin' dim, 'scept 'stead'a makin' folks think'ey ain't seein' somethin', ye're makin't seem like'ey ought not t'pick'em up. Y'see?" My eyes go a bit wide, 'cause I dunt think any 'a the stuff in the journals is that flexible. "You can change stuff 'round like that? I thought it always had t'be done the same way." We always take what's in the journals and do that. The idea 'a changin' what's in 'em... it just never really occurred t'me.

She takes a look at the bracelet. "Well, wuzn't workin' quite like y'meant't to, but't wuz doin's best. Right now..." She closer 'n flicks her finger along it, and looks like she bit somethin' sour. "Broke th'charm onnit. Jes' smashed't right down. Y'might b'able t'set'it back up, but most like...well, parta th'reason silver's so good't holdin' charms's cuzzit soaks magic right th'hell up. So like's not gotta li'l touch'a...well, a'what happ'ned still in'ere, an' like's not 'at li'l touch'll royally fuck up any other charm y'try t'lay onnit. Prob'ly best t'jes' toss't'n start anew."

Hell. "I ain't 'bout t'throw good silver away. D'you suppose meltin' it down 'n remakin' it as somethin' else would work?" I sure won't use it fer spellin', but it could still be somethin' useful 'r nice 'round the farm. Though thinkin' 'a that thing's power contaminatin' it, leechin' into me... "I might take another coffee like that last," I say, feelin' my face twist t'match hers.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Girl stares't me wit' huge eyes. "You can change stuff 'round like that? I thought it always had t'be done the same way."

Oh yeah, that there's th'trouble wit' trad'tion. Y'forget how t'change shit. "Oh yeah. Somma 'ese ol' spells're more flex'ble'n others...I mean, wouldn't wanna start playin' wit'ose anti-demon spells, fer 'zample. But th'minor charms like'at one're right fun t'play wit. Fer th'screamin', y'toss in a li'l mandrake, couple thin's t'make't sens'tive t'touch...oh, there's all sortsa thin's y'c'n try, if'n y'know wha'chour doin'." Girl's been missin' out on halffa th'fun'a'is job.

Looks real upset when I tell'er 'bout'er bracelet, though. "I ain't 'bout t'throw good silver away. D'you suppose meltin' it down 'n remakin' it as somethin' else would work?"

Frown. "Mebbe." Touch th'bracelet 'gain. "If'n y'mix't wit gold...'r else summore silver, might b'able t'dilute't. Gold's real good for pur'fyin' shit." 'course, where's she gonna get'er hands on fuckin' gold? "But...s'a risk, y'know?"

She looks a bit sick. "I might take another coffee like that last,"

Smile. "Sure." Pour'er a cup, give'er a nice good dollop'a shine innit. "If'n's really'at prec'ous, y'c'n try t'pur'fy't, but really, if'n's got even a scrap'a 'at fucker's magic left innit...well, I sure's hell wouldn' trust't. If'n wuz me, I'd toss't on th'fire, toss th'ashes inna river, never look back." Don't want nothin' wit'at fucker's essence anywhere near me. No sir.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah," she says. "Somma 'ese ol' spells're more flex'ble'n others...I mean, wouldn't wanna start playin' wit'ose anti-demon spells, fer 'zample. But th'minor charms like'at one're right fun t'play wit. Fer th'screamin', y'toss in a li'l mandrake, couple thin's t'make't sens'tive t'touch...oh, there's all sortsa thin's y'c'n try, if'n y'know wha'chour doin'." I nod slow, but it makes sense. If you were willin' t'risk somethin' bad you could probably even shift stuff 'round t'get things that nobody even told you 'bout.

She frowns 'n touches the bracelet again. "Mebbe. If'n y'mix't wit gold...'r else summore silver, might b'able t'dilute't. Gold's real good for pur'fyin' shit." Hell, we ain't got much silver but we got a lot less gold. I nod as she pours me another drink. I gulp it too fast t'start 'n I feel it burn down. Let it - maybe it'll get rid 'a this sick feelin' I bin havin ever since I found out the Adversary's here. The only time that's gone 'way is when I bin with Kate, really.

She says other ways it might be fixed, but she dunt sound hopeful. "I guess you're right. Silver ain't easy t'come by, but it ain't worth that risk." I take a sip 'a the coffee. I'm still feelin' uneasy 'bout everythin', but the liquor's helpin'. "I dunt think I'm dealin' with all this so well as you, Syl."

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see th'look on'er face. C'n guess she didn' have much'n th'way'a gold. 'at bracelet's like's not th'biggest chunk'a silver she's ever seen in'er life. Damn. Bettin' she's gonna havva helluvva hard time replacin'at charm. Damn.

She starts gulpin'er coffee, like's water, an' almost chokes. Next sip she takes's a lot slower. "I guess you're right. Silver ain't easy t'come by, but it ain't worth that risk." Sips again, 'n sighs. "I dunt think I'm dealin' with all this so well as you, Syl."

"Well, y'get used t'it." I says, smilin' some. "Ain't th'first crappy sitch've found m'self in, lemme tellya. Hate gettin' stuck'ere, but least nobody's comin' after us 'r starvin' us...an'I been hurt worse'n'e did me b'fore." Ain't come s'close t'dying b'fore...but been hurt worse. Sure.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She watches me, and smiles at my words. "Well, y'get used t'it," she says. "Ain't th'first crappy sitch've found m'self in, lemme tellya. Hate gettin' stuck'ere, but least nobody's comin' after us 'r starvin' us...an'I been hurt worse'n'e did me b'fore."

I dunt like feelin' in awe 'v anyone. Nobody's better'n me, though I dunt mean it like I'm better 'n anyone else. But I'm white 'n sippin' down liquor t'try 'n deal with this, 'n she's sayin' it ain't so bad. She's seen worse. She's thinkin' on cuttin' away flesh fer a rite that could well kill her, and she's still smilin'. And all so she can protect her and hers. Maybe that's why I feel closer t'her 'n I ought. I understand that.

"I guess so," I say, lookin' at her. I never met a woman so tough 'n determined as her. Kate comes close, but she's sweet, 'n Syl's got this hard, thorny core runnin' through her. I ain't hero-worshippin' 'r nothin', but with the drink 'n my fear 'n her calm 'n everythin'... "Hey," I say, and I lean across 'n kiss her, a hard press 'a my lips t'hers. I feel like I'm pullin' courage from her with the touch. "You really are somethin', you know that?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"I guess so." she says, real quiet-like. She's looking at me kinda funny, face still pale 'n kinda drawn, but lookin' at me like she's thinkin' 'bout somethin' too. "Hey," she says after a sec, an'en leans over'n kisses me. Not soft, th'way Verdi does...hard'n quick. "You really are somethin', you know that?" 's what she whispers, mouth still near-pressed t'mine.

....well. Ain't ev'ry day a pretty young girl comes t'm'wagon'n starts kissin' me. So I lean closer...hardly hafta move, she's so close now...'n kiss'er too, warm 'n hard. "Y'ain't so bad yerself," I says, smilin'. An' she is. Like'er. Girl's got real steel t'er. An' she's right pretty b'sides.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She leans forward the barest inch t'kiss me back, her mouth warm on my mine and tastin' 'a coffee 'n smoke 'n liquor. "Y'ain't so bad yerself," she says with a smile.

T'hell with it. I know this is a bad idea, fer all sorts 'a reasons, but I'm horny 'n scared 'n Syl dunt got no problems with this and ain't goin' t'tell it 'round. I shift over t'her lap, liftin' my face t'hers and kissin' her back harder now, my hands restin' on the hard lines 'a her thighs.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

....well, hell. Gotta split second t'wonder if'n'is's a good idea, what wit'er bein' drunk 'n scared 'n all....but she's a grown woman, an' she ain't passed out 'r nothin'. An' fuck...she's th'one crawlin' inta m'bloody lap 'n grabbin' m'thighs 'n alippin'er tongue inta m'mouth...

...an'm a li'l drunk m'self, ferrat matter. An' she feels mighty nice settled on m'lap like'at. 'member what'er legs look like under'at dress...

Pull'er close 'gainst me, mouths still pressed together. Slide onna m'hands under'er skirt, feel'er leg, smooth 'n sleek wit' muscle. Hand slides 'round, strokes up 'n down th'inside ovver thigh. Feels's nice's't looked. An'....oh, 's that what I think't is? Fuck, feels almost's big's mine. Gettin' t'like'is girl more'n more.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

She pulls me in closer 'n I like the feel 'a her, tall 'n slim 'n strong, her hand slidin' under my skirt 'n 'long my leg. She strokes 'long my thigh 'n I tighten my hands on her, my breath comin' fast now. Her hand stops on my knife, slung loose along my thigh under my skirt, 'n I feel her grin 'gainst my lips.

I guess she ain't put off by it none though, 'n I start fumblin' at her shirt. I cant seem t'remember whether she's got buttons 'r not 'n I finally end up pullin' my mouth off 'a hers 'n liftin' it off over her head. Her breasts are lots smaller 'n mine, close 'n pointed, but they feel good as I put my hand t'them, squeezin' 'em and runnin' my thumb over her hard nipples.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Girl's pantin' now, breath comin' hot'n hard 'gainst m'neck. Hips'r startin' to grind 'gainst m'lap, an' she's op'nin'er legs so's I c'n get a better feel ovver. Knows I found'er knife too, an' don't seem t'mind't none. 'course, she c'n tell I got m'own at m'hip...

'er hands're at m'shirt, tuggin'n yankin' attit. Think ferra sec she's gonna rip't right off, which I wouldn't really mind, but'en she breaks th'kiss 'n yanks't over m'head. Like us'al I ain't got no bra, an'er hands know right where t'go. Arch m'back's she starts squeezin' m'tits, runnin'er thumbs over m'nipples. Damn, buttit feels nice.

She's got bloody shorts on under'er dress. Who needs fuckin' shorts under a dress? Slide th'hand on'er thigh up, under the leg'a th'shorts. She's already gettin' good'n wet. Slip m'finger up, over'er labia, an'en 'tween'em t'flick real quick over'er clit. Jes' t'see how she jumps. An'en grin's I pull m'hand out 'n take hold ovver waist, turnin'er 'round so she's straddlin' me proper.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Continued here (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/268480.html).